Refrigerator



E. H. sTlENlNG May 1l, 1948.

REFRIGERATO;

Filed March 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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,MM/M4 vMay 11, 1941? REFRIGERATOR ."iled March 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. H. STIENING 2,441?376 F. H. STI'ENING May ll, 1948.

REFRIGERATOR Filed March 15, 1945 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR v Ffankl Stzenz'ng wwf M uf/Magd,

Patented May l1., 1948 anrnrcmroa Frank H. Stiening, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner of one-half to Beryl R. Stiening, Pittsburgh. Pa.

y Application Maren 15, 194s, serial Nt. 582,869

13 claims. (ci. sz-a9) My invention relates to refrigeration, and consists in certain new and useful improvements in a refrigerator structure particularly designed for the freezing and storing of frozen materials, particularly foods.

An object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator unit in which the materials to be preserved may be readily frozen and stored in frozen condition a unit particularly though not exclusively designed for domestic service. The unit is not only thermally effective and efficient, but it is of neat and pleasing appearance, easy to use,

with the various classes of foods lsegregated and readily accessible to the user according to the classication.

The invention will be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment of my improved refrigerator unit is illustrated: I

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the refrigerator unit;

Figure 2 is a view in cross section ofthe unit, as seen on the plane II-II, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in developed plan of a cerl tain cylindrical metal shell and a certain end wall and a partition included in the structure;

Figure 4 is a view in cross section, taken on the plane IV-IV of Figure 3 and shown on larger scale, and illustrating the manner in which the metal shell is constructed;

Figure 5 is a view comparable with Figure 4, illustrating a modied form in which the body of the shell may be constructed;

Figure 6 is an exploded view, illustrating in perspective the structure of a partitioned container that is rotatably mounted in the storage compartment of the refrigerator unit;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view to larger scale than Figure 1 of the front oi the unit, showing the cover raised to give access to the refrigerated chamber within, and indicating certain detent means for locking the rotary container in selected position;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic'view of one of the end walls of the partitioned container, villustrating four perforations therein for cooperation with a plurality of detent devices shown schematically in dotted lines;

Figure9 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing to still larger scale, on the plane indicated at IX-lX of Figure 8, one of the detent devices:

Figure 10 is a detail view, showingone end of the rotatable container fragmentarily to larger scale, and illustrating a certain latch for secur- Y 2 ing the doors of the compartments of the container in closed position; I Y

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view on thel same scale as Figure 10, showing the edge of one of the compartment covers, and illustrating a certain scraper element that is provided on each of such covers, thescraper element being shown inserviceable position in dotted lines, and in inactive position in full lines;

Figure 12 is a view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of a rotatable container of modified construction; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view lin elevation and to larger scale of one of the compartment doors of such modified container'.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the refrigerator of the invention consists of a cabinet `2 whose outer Walls are constructed of suitable material, such as sheet steel coated with a baked or vitreous enamel. Within the cabinet a chamber 3 is provided, and this chamber is an elongate, horizontally extending chamber divided by a partition 4 into a freezing compartment 3a and a storage compartment 3b. A container 30 is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis in the 4storage compartment 3b. The chamber 3 is for reasons presently to appear advantageously cylindrical in form, and part of the wall of the cylindrical chamber is formed in the wall of the cabinet as a cover 5, hinged at 6 and provided with a handle I to be manually swung into openyposition (see dotted line position, Figure 2) to give access to the chamber 3 within. In this case the cover extends the length of the cabinet, and is of onefourth the circumference of the cylindrical chamber in extent, although it is to be understood that the cover may be made in sections severally movable to give access severally to the compartments 3a and 3b of the chamber. Also, it is to be noted that the cover may be of greater extent circumferentially of the chamber than it vis herein shown-it may extend through as much as onehalf the circumference of the chamber to permit of the ready removal and replacement of the container 30, as will be described below.

The internal surface of the chamber comprises a cylindrical heat-absorbing wall 8 of non-corrosive metal, and in this case the-wall 8 is interrupted in its extent in that portion of the cylinder (one-fourth, as here shown) which is represented in the cover 5, although the cover may in some cases be lined with a wall section similarin structure and utility to the wall 8. The cylinder is provided with circular end walls 9 and I0 of metal, and the wall 9, the partition 4 and the cylindrical wall 8 are formed to include, or to carry in intimate thermal contact, passages orducts for the circulation of a fluid refrigerant or brine solution delivered by a refrigerating unit I I of any of the known types suitable f or the purse. pAs shown to best advantage in Figures 3 and 4, the cylindrical wall 3 of the chamber may be formed of two metal sheets I2 and I3 welded or otherwise secured face to face in vva hermetic union. In the sheet I2 a serpentine channel Il is impressed, so that, when the sheet I3 is assembled upon the face of the sheet I2 in which the channel is otherwise open. a continuous passageway I3 is provided over the entire expanse of the compound sheet I2, I3 that forms the cylindrical wall of the chamber 3. The compound sheet I2, I3 is shaped with the smooth or unchanneled vsheet arranged to form the internal cylindrical surface of the chamber 3. The circular partition 4 and end well 3 of the chamber 3 are likewise formed of two sheets of metal, in one of which a serpentine channel is impressed, to give in the assembled sheets continuous passageways I6 and I1, respectively. The end wall I0 (Figure 1) of the chamber may be similarly constructed but in this case it is not necessary. When the compound sheet I2, I3 is assembled with and welded to the two end walls 3 and I0 and partition 4, the passages I5, I6 and I1 are interconnected to provide a continuous Apassage through the cylindrical side wall't, end wall 9 and partition 4 which, with the end wall III, form the internal walls of the chamber 3, and connections are made to the refrigerating machine II for circulation of a i'iuid refrigerant or brine. Circulation is eifected in the manner schematically indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, and in known way heat is abstracted from the chamber 3. An eneveloping body I3 of suitable heat-insulating material is provided externally of the walls 8, 9 and I0. and a lining I9 of such material is provided in the cover, whereby the chamber 3 is adapted to freeze and store frozen food or other material.

The bottom of the cabinet 2 will be ventilated to provide the essential circulation of air for the usual condensing unit of the refrigerating apparatus II. And it will be also understood that the usual temperature control devices may be provided to hold the temperature within the chamber 3 to desired value.

In modification, the bodies of the chamber walls 4, 3 and 9 may be constructed of a single layer 2n of sheet metal, to which tubing 2| of metal, shaped to serpentine or other suitable outline, is soldered or welded in intimate thermal contact.

As above noted, the compartment 3a is the freezing chamber, in which the foods to be frozen are initially placed, and it will be noted that not only the cylindrical wall 3 but the partition 4 and end wall 3 that define the walls of this freezing compartment are all formed with passages for the flow of the refrigerant. The freezingcompartment is substantially entirely enclosed by heat-absorbing walls, and this feature, together with the relatively small size of the compartment 3a, concentrates the reiziger-ating effect and adapts such compartment to eiiicient service in the quick freezing of food or other material placed in it. After the material has been frozen in the freezing compartment 3a, itl

is transferred to the storage compartment 3b. in which the container 33 is provided for the segre- 4. gated or classied support of the various frozen items of food or other material.

` From what has been said, it will be understood that the chamber 3 is internally lined or faced with a wall 3 that is elongated and trough-shaped in horizontal direction. and that by virtue of this particular form each article of a group of articles placed either in the freezing compartment 3a or the storage compartment 3b is located relatively close to the heat-absorbing wall 8. Additionally, the cylindrical form of the wall 3 affords in the chamber 3 a minimum perimeter or circumference for given cross-sectional dimension, wherefore the area for heat infiltration from the outer atmosphere is minimized for given storage capacity.

The container 30 is a. comparted structure, whereby various classes of foods may be separately stored in the chamber 3 for ready removal. The container 30 is constructed in the form of a. rotary drum or cage, and the compartments are arranged to extend longitudinally .or axially of the drum, and each compartment has an individual door 22, so that by lifting the cover 5 and rotating the drum any desired compartment may be brought into registry with the uncovered access opening or doorway of the cabinet, and the door 22 of the .particular compartment swung open. as indicated in dotted lines 22 in Figure 2.

More particularly, the axially comparted drum is formed of a plurality of compartment sections 23, four being shown in this case. The two walls 24 and 26 of each compartment section, extend at an angle of ninety degrees to one another, and may be constructed of sheet metal, perforated as indicated at the lower, left-hand end of the view in Figure 6. Alternately, a woven wire fabric, or an expanded sheet metal may be used in the construction of the walls 24 and 26, and similar material may be used in the construction of the door 22 that is hinged to the wall 25 of each compartment section. The compartment sections are assembled upon a shaft 26, between two circular end walls 21 and 28 secured to the shaft, and in this case the shaft is square in cross section between the walls 21 and 28, and, projecting beyond such walls, is cylindrical in form` to provide journal portions 23 that are received in open or U- shaped bearings 3| and 32 carried by the wall It and partition 4, respectively, that yform the end walls of the chamber compartment 3b.

The container compartment sections 23 are secured in assembly upon the shaft 26 between the compartment end walls 21 and 28, and security of assembly is effected by the use of wing screws 33 (Figure 2), passed through suitable openings in flattened webs 34 at theintersection of the walls 24 and 25 of each compartment, and tightened in threaded holes 36 provided therefor in the shaft 26. As thus assembled on the shaft between the walls 21 and 28 the four compartment sections 23 provide an integral drum or cage of the invention. And when the cage is supported, as it is, by the bearings 3l and 32 in the chamber compartment 3b in the cabinet, the desired storage facilities are afforded. The covers 22 on the compartment may bear legends, Meats," Fish,'

etc., to indicate the class of food or material that f goes in each compartment of the container drum or cage.

It may be noted that in the structure herein illustrated the shaft 26 may rst be mounted in the chamber 3 and the compartment sections successively introduced to the chambery and secured to the shaft. This is required because the doorway providedby opening the cover is of,v smaller transverse extent than the completely assembled drum or cage, although it is to be noted that the cover 5 may in some cases journals 29.

As indicated, the container walls 24, 25, 21,

29 and the covers 22 may be of reticulated or perforate structure, but in some cases it will prove advantageous to construct the walls of one or more of the compartments of impervious material.

A depression 36 (Figure 6) is formed in each door 22 of the .container to serve as a fingergrip in opening the door, when by container rotation it is moved into registry -with the open doorway of the cabinet 2. Means arev also provided for securing the doors 22 in closed position, and for purposes of illustration I indicate in Figure that the opposite edges of eachdor may be notched, as at 91, and latches 99,

pivoted as at 39, to the end 'walls 21 and 29 may be provided with heads engaged over-an edge of each slot to secure the door. By pressing upward on the heads 49, the latches swing away from the engaged edge of the notches 91, so that the door is released to be opened.

A food selector mechanism is provided, and

this mechanism is adapted to secure the cage in position with the particular one of the compartments 23 that contains the desired food in position of registry with the cabinet doorway. Such selector mechanism includes "buttons" or levers 4I mounted on the curved wall portion 4-2 at one end of the cabinet, as shown in Figure'. There is one lever 4I for each radial compartment in the rotary container 30, and the levers are provided with broadened faces which may bear legends appropriate for the contents of the container compartments severally associated therewith. Mounted in the end wall I9 of the chamber 3 is a detent device 50 for each lever 4l, and in the end wall 21 of the rotary container an orifice 5I is provided for each of the four compartments of the container. The detents 59, which are severally organized with and operated by the levers 4l, are spaced apart, as indicated schematically in Figure 8, and the orifices 5I are so arranged radially and circumferentially of the circular end wall 21 that only one detent can cooperate with one orice. Thus, by operating one of the levers 4I one of the detents may be shifted into orifice-engaging position, and only one of the orifices 5l can, by container rotation, be engaged by that particular detent. So it is with each lever-operated detent 59 on the cabinet wall I0 and its associated orice 5l in the container wall 21, with the consequence that, by selectively operating one lever 4|, one particular orifice 5I will `be engaged by the detent-to secure ,the food container in position with a correlated compartment 23 and its door in registry with the cabinet doorway. Any one of the levers 4| may be selectively operated to arrest the container 6 I 39 (upon manual or mechanical rotation), with the, desired container compartment in registry with the cabinet doorway.

In Figure 9 a typical mechanism for operating the detents 59 is illustrated, it being understood that each detent will be provided with a linkage as shown in this figure. with the qualiilcation that the length of a certain connecting rod 44 is modifled to correspond with the positions of the detents 59 of Figure 8. Each lever 4l is pivoted at 49 to the wall portion 42 of the cabinet. and a connecting rod 44, extending upward through the wall portion 42, is pivotally connected at 45 to the lever at an interval from its fulcrum 49. At its lower end the rod 44 is pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank lever 49 that is pivoted to a bracket 41 on the wall I9, while the other arm of the bell-crank lever is articulated to the stem 49 of a tube 49 that is slideably secured in the wall I9. Within the tube 49 a spring 52 urges a round-nosed pin 59 in left-to-right direction, but the edge of the tube 49 is peened inward to engagey a head on the pin and prevent movement of the pin outward from the tube. With the parts in the illustrated positions, in which they are normally lheld bymeans of a tension spring 54 biased i between the rod 44 and the bracket 41, the round the ends of the bars, be swung on their hinges.

end of the pin 53 does not. make contact with the wall 21 of the rotary container, and the container may be freely rotated, so far as this particular pin 59 is concerned. However, by lifting the distal, broadened end of thej lever 4I, the rod 44 is raised, the bell-crank lever 46 is turned counter-clockwise, and the tube 49 is shifted in left-to-right direction, advancing the tube 49 and moving the pin 59 into contact with the side face of the container wall 21. The tube telescopes part way over the pin 59 and compresses the spring 52. The end of the pin yieldingly bears against the side face of the wall 21, whereby, when the container is rotated and the correlated orice 5| moved into registry with the pin 52, the pin snaps into the orifice and thereby secures the container in. position with the desired compartment 23 thereof in registered position with respect to the doorway of the cabinet.y Thereupon, the door 22 of the container compartment may be opened, and food put in `or taken out. Any one of the four levers 4| may in this manner be operated to arrest the container with any one of the four compartments in accessible position.

Means are provided for removing accumulations of frost from the cylindrical wall 9 of the chamber compartment 3b in which the container is mounted. Such means may comprise one or more scrapers mounted on the side of the container. In this case, scraper bars 55 are hinged to the covers 22 of the rotary container, as shown in Figures 6 and 11; normally these bars 11e folded against the surfaces of the covers (see fullline showing in Figure 11) and do not touch the cylindrical wall 9 w-hen the container is rotated. When the removalof frost is desired, one or more of the bars may, by pressing levers 56 at into the upstanding position illustratedin ,dotted lines in Figure 11. When the container is rotated (see the arrows in Figure 1l) with the bars raised to this position, the outer edges of the bars scrape the cylinder surface of the wall 9, and sweep the dislodged frost before them. As each bar on the rotating cylinder reaches the lower edge of the doorway in the cabinet, rota- 7 tion of the container is interrupted, and the accumulated frost removed from the bar. In such manner the cylinder may be rotated step by step, and the bars 55 caused to clean the frost from the wall 8. When the defrosting operation is completed, the bars are swung back into inactive positions on the doors .22.

I have provided a modiiication in the form of the rotary container, whereby the doors of the compartment become means for clamping the stored material securely in place in each compartment, so that when the container its rotated the individual packages or items of stored material will not tumble about as they would if the compartment on which they were contained was not fully packed. Referring to Figure 12, the container doors 22a are arranged to swing in- Ward of the compartments 23a which they severally close, and the compartments themselves are formed by means of arcuate partitions 25a secured to and extending from the shaft 26a, as shown. The partitions 25a carry rigid circumferential segments 25h, and it is to the edges of segments 25h that the doors 22a are hinged, the organization being such that each door is adapted not only to be swung outward to give access to the associate compartment, but also may be swung inward to press against or clamp the contents of the compartment securely in place. The otherwise free edges'. of the door carries a springbacked ratchet 51 (Figure 12) that is adapted to engage a line of ratchet teeth 58 (Figure 11) impressed in the sheet metal lbody of the partition 25a over which the distal edge of the door is adapted to swing, and when the door is swung inward and pressed against the contents of the compartment the engagement of the ratchet 51v with a particular ratchet tooth secures the door in clamping engagement with the contents of the compartment. Each compartment may be provided with a door of this type. and thus the contents are prevented from tumbling about when the container is rotated. In order to open a compartment, the ratchet is withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet teeth by means of a finger-grip 59, and the door swung outward into open position.

In this form of container the frost-removing bars 55 may be mounted on the rigid wall segments 25h.

It will be also perceived that it is possible to provide a spring device for opening the cabinet cover 5, and holding it open, upon the release of a latch that is arranged normally to hold the cover in closed position against the stress of such spring. The latch may be manipulated either -by means of a hand-operated button, or by means of a foot treadle. Many other variations and modications may be practiced within the terms of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet including a chamber whose internal surface comprises a horizontally extending, elongate, trough-shaped wall, an end Wall and a partition united with said troughshaped wall to provide in part of said chamber a quick-freeze compartment, means for circulating a. refrigerant in thermal communication with said walls and partition, and ajcover in said cabinet movable to give access td said chamber.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having an elongate horizontal chamber and means for abstracting 8 heat from said chamber, an insulated cover movable to give access to said chamber, said chamber being divided into a quick-freeze compartment and a storage compartment, and a comparted container in said storage compartment mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis to bring the compartments thereof selectively into position of registry with the cover.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and means for abstracting heat from said chamber, an insulated cover movable to give access to said chamber, said chamber being divided into a quickfreeze compartment and a storage compartment, and a comparted container in said storage compartment mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis to bring the compartments thereof selectively into position of registry with said cover, together with means for securing said container in selected position.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and means for abstracting heat from said chamber, an insulated cover movable to give access to said chamber, a heat-absorbing wall dividing said chamber vinto quick-freeze and storage compartments, and a comparted container in said storage compartment mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis to bring the compartments thereof selectively into position of registry with said cover.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a horizontally extending cylindrical chamber and means including passages for a refrigerant lining the internal cylindrical side wall and at least one end wall of said chamber, a heat-absorbing transverse partition dividing said chamber into compartments, the compartment between said end wall and said partition comprising a quick-freeze space in said chamber, and a movable container in the other compartment for material to be stored under the eiect of refrigeration.

6. .Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and means for abstracting heat therefrom, an insulated cover arranged to be opened to give access to said chamber, and a container mounted in said chamber for rotation on a horizontal axis, said container comprising a drum assembly including a plurality of hollow cylindrical segments having Walls of heat-conducting material, and doors provided in the walls of said hollow segments severally to give access to the interiors of the segments and adapted upon rotation of the drum to be brought into registry with said cover.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and means for abstracting heat therefrom, an insulated cover arranged to be opened to give access to said chamber, and a container mounted in said chamber for rotation on a horizontal axis, said container comprising a drum assembly including a plurality of hollow cylindrical segments having walls of heat-conducting material, the segmental cylindrical wall portion of each hollow segment comprising a door adapted upon rotation of said drum to be brought into registry with said cover.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a beate-insulated cabinet having a chamber Vwhose '.wall comprises a longitudinally extending tubular shell of metal provided with a metal end wall and a transverse metal partition spaced therefrom, means for circulating a refrigerant in thermal communicationwith said metal shell, end wall and partition, and an insulated cover included in the cabinet structure to give access to said partitioned chamber.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber whose wall comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical shell of metal having an end wall and a transverse partition spaced therefrom, said shell, end wall and partition being provided with internal passages, and means for circulating a refrigerant through said pasages.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a. heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and' means for abstracting heat therefrom, a container mounted for rotation in said chamber, a door on said container mounted to move into clamping engagement with materials stored in the container. and means for securing the door in various clamping positions.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-insulated cabinet having a chamber and means for abstracting heat therefrom', a comparted container mounted for rotation in said chamber, doors severally arranged with compartments of the container and mounted to move into clamping engagement with the materials stored in the compartments, and means for securingthe doors in various clamping positions.

12. A refrigerator of the class described comprising a cabinet having a horizontally extend- -ing elongate cylindrical chamber within a wall oi' insulating material, said wall having a relatively thin lining of heat-conducting material and passages for fluid refrigerant in bodily contact with said lining outward from the internal surface thereof and within the wall of insulating material, means for circulating a chilled fluid refrigerant in said passages, a container in said chamber mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, and a door in said cabinet movable to give access to said chamber and the container therein.

13. A refrigerator of the class describedcomprising a cabinet having a horizontally extending elongate cylindrical chamber within a wall of insulating material, said wall having a relatively thin lining of heat-conducting material and passages for fluid refrigerant in bodily contact with said lining outward from the internal surface thereof and within the wall of insulating material, a partition formed of heatconducting material and including passages for uid refrigerant, said partition extending transversely of said cylindrical chamber, to divide the chamber into a,k storage compartment and a quick-freeze compartment, means for circulating a chilled iiuid refrigerant in said passages, a con tainer in lsaid storagecompartment mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, anddoor means provided in said cabinet to give access to said compartments. l FRANK H. SIIENING.

milrnmmcnsv CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS 

